Yes, you can absolutely upgrade your iPhone to a new one, and Apple provides several easy ways to do it, like the iPhone Upgrade Program (for yearly upgrades with AppleCare+) or using Apple Trade In for credit towards a new device. The key steps involve checking your eligibility, choosing your new phone, transferring your data from your old iPhone (using Quick Start or iCloud backup is common), and setting up the new device with your carrier and account details.
Can I still upgrade to a new iPhone? Yes. If you upgrade online, you may be charged an incident fee after your iPhone is received and assessed for damage. If you upgrade at an Apple Store, you may be charged an incident fee at that time.
In short, no - you cannot keep (or sell privately) an iPhone bought under the iPhone Upgrade Program and also exercise the Upgrade Option. You either pay the full amount due and keep the iPhone or you trade it in part way through and upgrade to a new iPhone.
It's not a mistake. You can upgrade early after 6 months by paying another 6 months worth plus returning your iPhone in. Otherwise you'll have to wait until you made 12 payments in order to be eligible for an upgrade.
To transfer data to a new iPhone, use Quick Start by placing devices together for an automatic setup, or choose iCloud Backup during the new phone's setup, logging in with your Apple ID to restore from a recent backup, with apps and data downloading in the background. For a wired method, connect both iPhones to a computer and use Finder (Mac) or iTunes (PC) to transfer a backup. Ensure both phones are charged and connected to Wi-Fi.
Yes, you should put your physical SIM card into your new iPhone before starting the data transfer for a smoother setup, as it gives your new phone immediate network access and carries over your phone number, though it can technically be done after. It's a good early step in the "pre-transfer checklist" to have your SIM in the new device before you begin the Quick Start or restore process from your old phone.
Three-finger gestures on iPhone primarily activate accessibility features like VoiceOver (for screen reading and navigation) and Zoom (magnification), allowing scrolling, zooming, and text manipulation (copy/paste/undo) with specific taps and drags, though some text actions work without VoiceOver enabled for quick editing. Common gestures include three-finger double-tap to toggle VoiceOver speech, triple-tap for the screen curtain, and pinching/spreading with three fingers for copy/paste actions, notes this YouTube video.
If you download from iCloud, your apps and data will be downloaded in the background so that you can start using your new device straight away. If you transfer directly from your previous device, you'll need to wait for the transfer to be finished on both devices before you can use them.
The 20-80 rule for iPhones suggests keeping the battery charge between 20% and 80% to minimize stress on the lithium-ion battery, thereby extending its overall lifespan and health by avoiding the high-stress points of full discharge (0%) and full charge (100%). While not a strict necessity for daily use, this practice reduces battery degradation by avoiding deep discharges and the taxing final 20% of charging, helping maintain battery capacity longer, though modern iPhones have built-in features like Optimized Battery Charging to manage this.
Yes, the iPhone 17 is largely considered a worthwhile upgrade, especially from older models (iPhone 14 or earlier) due to significant improvements like a smoother display (ProMotion on base models), USB-C with faster data, longer battery life, and capable cameras, making the base model a much stronger value and often close to Pro features, though the Pro offers more serious performance. Whether it's worth it depends on your current phone: it's a big jump from an iPhone 13/14 but less necessary if you have a recent iPhone 16.
You're eligible to upgrade to a new iPhone once you've made 12 payments. Just trade in your current iPhone and start a new plan.³ It's that easy.
No, the iPhone 7 is not good in 2025 for most users; it's outdated due to lacking current iOS updates, leading to major app incompatibility, significant security risks, poor performance, and terrible battery life, making it a frustrating and vulnerable device for modern use despite its low price on the used market. It's best to upgrade to a newer model, like an iPhone 11 or newer, for long-term security and functionality, as the 7 is stuck on iOS 15 and struggles with new apps.
If your old device has iOS 11 or later, use Quick Start to automatically transfer information to your new device. If your old device has iOS 10 or earlier, use iCloud, iTunes, or the Finder to transfer information to your new device.
Save. Or recycle it for free. With Apple Trade In, you can get a great price for your current device and apply it towards a new one, online or at an Apple Store. If your device isn't eligible for credit, we'll recycle it — and other devices and accessories you no longer use — securely and for free.
iPhones generally last four years or more without any major issues. But unless you have a pressing need or a lot of disposable income, upgrading every year is just contributing to unnecessary waste — and let's be honest, it adds to the growing carbon footprint we should all be more mindful of.
You may wonder how to get a free iPhone without paying full price. The answer is yes, it is possible through government programs, carrier promotions, or trade-in offers. The most reliable option is the federal Lifeline program, which gives eligible households a free government iPhone along with free monthly service.
You can charge your iPhone every night even if the battery isn't fully depleted. iPhone automatically stops charging when the battery is fully charged, so it's safe to keep your iPhone connected to a charger overnight. Charging resumes automatically if your battery level drops below 95 percent.
It's especially important to avoid exposing your device to ambient temperatures higher than 95° F (35° C), which can permanently damage battery capacity. That is, your battery won't power your device as long on a given charge. Charging the device in high ambient temperatures can damage it further.
Your photos, contacts, videos, message history, music, calendars, mail accounts, and many of your apps can all be transferred from your previous device to the new one. We've outlined the steps below. Updated September 2025: We've verified the instructions for the latest iPhones and iOS 26.
When you insert your SIM card into another phone, you transfer that information to the new device. Your phone number does not change when you transfer phones using your SIM card because your number is linked to the SIM card and the mobile network rather than the specific phone.
The speediest method: Apple direct transfer
Using a cable rated for fast data speeds, the process can be surprisingly swift, and is my preferred way to upgrade to a new iPhone.
*3001#12345#* on an iPhone activates the hidden Field Test Mode, a diagnostic tool for network engineers and power users to see detailed cellular data like signal strength (dBm), cell tower info, and network quality, accessible by dialing the code in the Phone app and pressing call, often after turning off Wi-Fi for accurate cellular readings.
You can double-tap or triple-tap the back of iPhone to perform actions such as taking a screenshot, turning on an accessibility feature, running a shortcut, and more. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, then choose an action.
Messages automatically uses the following screen effects for specific text strings: